Hyderabad: Several faculty sources in ASCI and also members of the Court of Governors of the Central government-funded institution have confirmed that a complaint of sexual harassment has been made by a faculty member against Mr Ravi Kant.
A 1985 West Bengal cadre IAS officer, Mr Ravi Kant had quit the IAS and joined Ramky Group for a long stint before being brought in as the DG of ASCI by the chairman of the Court of Governors of ASCI, Mr S.M. Datta.
The victim has made five allegations in her complaint against Mr Ravi Kant, all of which he has denied. She has also initiated a legal battle, sources said.
“The complaint was made in July but it is being stonewalled by some people at the helm of affairs citing legalities. Of course, most members of the Court of Governors disagree and want the allegations to be inquired into,” a member of the Court of Governors said on condition of anonymity.
Some of the members of the Court of Governors are extremely upset with the way things are moving regarding the sexual harassment complaint, which is a first in the history of ASCI.
An internal or local committee has to be formed by the institution as per Section 11 of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act to probe into the allegations of the complainant.
Chairperson Mr Datta couldn’t be reached for comments.
Meanwhile, Mr Ravi Kant said that all processes as per the Act were being followed by the institution and the truth would eventually come out.
“There is an Act that gives protection to women. And if any woman wants to malign another person, she is free to lodge a complaint. But people shouldn’t misuse these laws. There is a process in place and the truth will finally come out,” he said.
